Coming into the season, Shane Steichen’s Indianapolis Colts were largely left for dead in the AFC South. After an embarrassing 4-12-1 season, going up against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, and Houston Texans, few anticipated much success from the Colts. During the preseason, Vegas took bets on whether Indianapolis would win more or less than 6.5 games.
It didn’t help that Indianapolis was set to start a rookie QB, with fourth-overall pick Anthony Richardson getting the keys to the offense at just 21 years old. Typically, quarterbacks in their first season don’t experience immediate success (A rookie QB has never won the Super Bowl as the starter).
While Richardson only got to play parts of four games due to various injuries, including season-ending shoulder surgery, his impact was noticeable early on. But even without Richardson scoring seven touchdowns in just four appearances, the Colts have had one of the best offenses in the NFL all season.
With the Colts sitting at 6-5, in reaching distance of a playoff spot in the AFC, Coach Steichen has shown he was a great hire. But he’s also earned consideration to be considered a legitimate candidate to win NFL’s Coach of the Year award.
Shane Steichen’s offense is one of NFL’s best, without star power
The Colts came into Week 12 with the ninth-highest-scoring offense in the NFL, at 24.2 points per game. On Sunday, coach Steichen’s Colts added another 27 points to the tally, ensuring they won’t fall out of the top ten in scoring heading into Week 13 either.
The Colts have scored fewer than 20 points just once all season long, coming against the New England Patriots in Week 10. But it’s not like Indianapolis has a cast full of All-Pro players on offense.
Instead, it’s their second-string QB, Gardner Minshew, who has a fair amount of experience, having started 24 games in his NFL career prior to this season. Yet, he’s not exactly Patrick Mahomes with his arm or Richardson with his legs. Minshew’s averaging 202.2 yards per game, nowhere near the top QBs in the league.
As to the Colts’ rushing offense, it’s one of the best in the league, but it’s nowhere near the very best. The Colts came into Week 12 ranking 17th in yards per carry, suggesting their rushing attack isn’t very efficient. Yet, by sticking with the ground game each week, the Colts have managed to gain the tenth-most rushing yards in the NFL.
Oddly enough, it hasn’t been All-Pro Jonathan Taylor leading the way. By trusting Zack Moss, who’s averaging 4.7 yards per carry and is up to a career-high 672 rushing yards and five touchdowns, the Colts have established a dangerous 1-2 punch that ranks among the best running back tandems in the NFL.
But that’s what Shane Steichen’s scheme brings to the table. Just like the rush-heavy approach we see in Philadelphia where Coach Steichen came from, now the Colts are doing the same in Indianapolis. Even though they don’t have a Pro Bowl QB like Jalen Hurts or a Pro Bowl receiver like A.J. Brown. Yet, without those highly accomplished individuals, the Colts are still putting tons of points on the scoreboard and are firmly in the AFC playoff picture.
While several other coaches deserve recognition, it would be impossible to ignore the work Coach Steichen has done with the Colts in 2023. When it comes time to vote for the NFL’s Coach of the Year after the regular season wraps up, don’t be surprised when Steichen gets a few votes.
Related: See where Gardner Minshew lands in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB rankings